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Chiefs, Commanders, Ravens Out On Davante Adams; Raiders Open To Retaining WR?

October 9th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The pack is thinning in the Davante Adams pursuit. Although the teams most closely linked to the Raiders wide receiver remain in the hunt, some of the second-tier pursuers are no longer part of this mix.

Never a realistic destination due to their AFC West proximity, the Chiefs are indeed out on Adams. The same goes for the Commanders and Ravens, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur. Both Mid-Atlantic teams were believed to be in on Adams, along with the usual suspects since the WR’s trade request, but Baltimore had been drifting out of the picture.

[RELATED: Raiders Aiming To Unload WR Soon]

The Commanders were listed as an Adams dark-horse destination over the weekend, but this is the second time GM Adam Peters has stood down on a big-ticket pass catcher. Brandon Aiyuk, who played a season with Jayden Daniels at Arizona State, would have been amenable to a Washington trade. But the Commanders did not show much interest in the 49ers WR this offseason. Now, the Commanders are passing on Adams, who comes with a salary teams are not keen on paying.

Adams ignited Baltimore speculation by tweeting a picture of Edgar Allan Poe last week, but the Ravens have not discussed the wideout with the Raiders in several days. The Cowboys balked due to the Raiders’ insistence they pay all of Adams’ prorated salary, per The Athletic. Dallas was mentioned as a team who checked in with the Raiders but deemed not interested soon after. Other clubs are joining Jerry Jones‘ team.

The Saints and Jets are still in this, and veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson adds Derek Carr‘s injury — an oblique issue expected to cost the QB multiple games — does not change New Orleans’ interest in this big swing. The Steelers have reached out as well, per The Athletic, while the Bills are monitoring this situation. Buffalo joined Baltimore in deeming the Raiders’ asking price as too high, but the Bills being somewhat concerned about their receiver situation may change the equation. The Steelers have been looking at WRs since establishing Brandon Aiyuk trade framework.

While ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler points to the Saints as being a slight favorite here now, ESPN colleague Adam Schefter indicates (video link) Raiders talks with the Saints and Jets may be slowing down due to the Robert Saleh firing and Carr injury respectively affecting those respective teams. This somewhat contradicts Anderson’s account re: the Saints, but while Adams is still interested in being dealt to New York or New Orleans, this process does appear to have hit a lull.

The main reason for the slowdown: the Raiders’ hope they can unload Adams for strong draft compensation and convince the acquiring team to pay the entirety of his prorated base salary. At least one team negotiating with the Raiders was told the AFC West club does not intend to pay any of the wideout’s remaining 2024 base, Fowler adds. This hardline stance obviously will give teams pause about giving up a plus asset — the Raiders want a second-round pick and more — for a soon-to-be 31-year-old receiver who is due $11.92MM for the season’s remainder.

On the New Orleans front, Anderson adds the prospect of giving up a higher-end draft choice here has not gained much traction. While the Saints are known for their salary cap wizardry, they only hold $2.6MM in space as of Wednesday. Mickey Loomis‘ club would need to make significant adjustments to accommodate all of Adams’ money — to the point it might be a nonstarter for the Saints if the Raiders refuse paying any of Adams’ salary.

As for the Jets, The Athletic notes they are still talking to the Raiders despite having fired Saleh. That decision conceivably moves Joe Douglas closer to the chopping block, but the sixth-year GM is still running point on negotiations that will help the 2024 Jets. Considering the jobs on the line and Aaron Rodgers‘ urging for this reunion, it would surprise if New York was not in this until the end.

Adams had pledged continued support for the Raiders’ cause, denying trade rumors for a while, but Fowler adds the quarterback situation — which has featured a months-long, on-and-off competition between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell — has factored into the receiver’s decision to ask out. Adams displayed clear frustration during the Raiders’ short-lived Jimmy Garoppolo QB1 period, making it unsurprising a player who built a Hall of Fame case with Rodgers and produced first-team All-Pro numbers with Carr would want much more of the Raiders’ current situation.

That said, the onus for an Adams trade to take place as soon as possible falls on the Raiders, who are paying the disgruntled wideout nearly $1MM per week until he is dealt. The Raiders carry more than $26MM in cap space and need a long-term quarterback, making it a bit odd they are holding the line financially when paying some of Adams’ money would bring better trade compensation. Also complicating Adams’ situation: his hamstring injury will sideline him for Week 6, Fowler adds. A previous report pointed to Adams being ready for Week 6; a three-week injury absence stands to give teams more pause.

Adams requesting a meeting with Antonio Pierce to express his demand to be traded to a better team surprised his coach, according to The Athletic. Adams had stumped for Pierce to be elevated to the full-time HC post, but the parties’ relationship has deteriorated since. The Raiders said they would accommodate him due to not wanting uncommitted players. Adams was then informed of the Pierce Instagram like regarding a trade the next morning during his appearance on Up & Adams.

It should now be noted that Pierce is not slamming the door shut on Adams playing for the team again. Pierce said he and Adams have talked since the trade request surfaced, and it sounds like the Raiders — potentially in a posturing move — are open to keeping Adams.

“He is in good spirits, we talked … so everything’s good. … He is still a Raider. He has never not been a Raider,” Pierce said, via Tafur. “When he’s healthy and can play, we’ll play him. He’s working everyday to get that hamstring right and he’s in the right headspace mentally. Like I said, we talked recently, had a good conversation and he’s ready to play football.”

Unless Pierce’s Wednesday words do prompt a reconciliation, the Raiders are preparing to say goodbye to the first receiver they have seen snare first-team All-Pro honors since Hall of Famer Cliff Branch in 1976. Teams will save more than $940K each week by waiting, as the NFL’s offseason deadline change resulted in a Nov. 5 trade endpoint for this year.

Raiders To Start Aidan O’Connell In Week 6

October 9th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Unlike the Las Vegas development earlier this season, Gardner Minshew‘s benching will last into the next week. Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday afternoon it will be Aidan O’Connell in Week 6.

The Raiders had been reportedly set to relaunch their Minshew-O’Connell competition from this offseason, going through practices to determine the starter. That would have been somewhat unusual given all the intel the team already has on the two passers. After sitting Minshew twice during games this season, Pierce will give O’Connell another shot.

Pierce said (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) he wants O’Connell to start for the rest of the season, though the second-year Raiders HC couched that stance by noting Minshew would return to the lineup if needed. This back-and-forth has lasted for months, with an O’Connell offseason lead eventually turning into Minshew winning the job. Pierce then benched Minshew in Weeks 3 and 5. Pierce is now going back to the player who started throughout his interim HC run.

This brings O’Connell’s second in-season promotion. Although the 2023 fourth-round pick started in place of Jimmy Garoppolo in a game early last season (featuring a Khalil Mack sack explosion), Josh McDaniels went with Brian Hoyer over him when Garoppolo sustained a second injury. Shortly after the Raiders canned McDaniels, Pierce gave O’Connell the job for good. Garoppolo did not start another game with the team and was released, via a post-June 1 cut, this offseason.

O’Connell, who is already 26 despite entering the NFL last year, completed 62.1% of his passes as a rookie (at 6.5 per attempt). That came largely under interim OC Bo Hardegree, who is not on this year’s Raiders staff. O’Connell is at 59.4% and 5.5 per pass under OC Luke Getsy, though 32 passes is obviously not a sufficient sample size. The Raiders will expand that number beginning against the Steelers, but this ongoing drama should be expected to produce ties to future QB options soon.

The Raiders gave Minshew a two-year, $25MM deal ($15MM guaranteed at signing) as insurance in case the draft board did not fall their way. After Pierce pushed for a trade-up — with an unrealistic climb for former Arizona State charge Jayden Daniels the ultimate goal — GM Tom Telesco stood down. The Raiders had hosted Bo Nix on a pre-draft visit and were linked to Michael Penix Jr., but they did not view either as trade-up targets. Denver chose Nix at No. 12, and Las Vegas went with a best-player-available pick in Brock Bowers at 13. Bowers has shown immediate promise, and while he will currently be tasked with helping O’Connell, the Raiders will be looking for a way out of this long-running QB chapter soon.

Minshew, who is being benched despite at 70.7% completion rate (7.2 yards per attempt, albeit with a 4-to-5 TD-INT ratio) secured $3.16MM of his 2025 base salary ($11.84MM) guaranteed at signing. It will cost the Raiders $7.66MM in dead money to drop him in 2025. The Raiders are already on the hook for more than $17MM in dead cap due to the Garoppolo release; $12.8MM of that sum will hit the team’s cap sheet in 2025.

Minshew, 27, led the Colts to the playoff precipice; like Joe Flacco, he proved a more accurate solution than project Anthony Richardson. QBR slotted Minshew 13th last season. This led to the Raiders making him the second-highest-paid QB free agent of this year’s class. But he is now following Garoppolo — last year’s highest-paid QB free agent — in being benched for O’Connell, who joined Minshew in throwing INTs to Patrick Surtain on Sunday. Minshew threw a second pick in his Denver outing as well.

The Raiders enjoyed QB stability for nine seasons, with Derek Carr a dependable (if unremarkable) starter. The team has since started five QBs since Carr’s late-season benching two years ago. It will be O’Connell’s turn again, and with the Raiders having him under contract through 2026, this Minshew demotion gives the (slightly) younger passer a chance to audition for a 2025 stopgap gig.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/24

October 9th, 2024 at 7:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: CB DJ Ivey

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Free Agents

The Browns are set to start working Hurst and Diabate back to the active roster in practice. 17 of Hurst’s 18 starts came in his first three years in the NFL back from 2018-20, but he did line up as a starter in his lone game with the Browns this year prior to being placed on injured reserve.

Carpenter and Smith are set to miss their next six games due to the suspension levied by the NFL. Carpenter’s suspension is likely linked to the December arrest last year that saw him released from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. The purpose for Smith’s suspension isn’t as clear, but he also got arrested in 2022 on drugs and weapons charges.

Raiders To Relaunch QB Competition

October 9th, 2024 at 9:20am CST by Sam Robinson

After benching Gardner Minshew in two of their past three games, the Raiders are now planning to make the veteran reclaim the job via a competition with backup Aidan O’Connell.

The QBs’ latest battle will take place in practice this week, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes. This marks another chapter in a long-running matchup to determine which quarterback is Las Vegas’ better stopgap option, as ties to 2025 draft prospects are undoubtedly coming soon. For now, the Raiders will need to again pick Minshew or O’Connell, the team’s options after six quarterbacks went off this year’s draft board before the team’s No. 13 overall pick.

Antonio Pierce put a temporary halt to speculation he would bench Minshew, but after Patrick Surtain‘s 100-yard pick-six keyed a Broncos blowout that featured a second Minshew interception, the Vegas HC has not provided the sixth-year veteran any assurances the job is still his for the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Steelers. O’Connell, the team’s starter for the second half of last season, may soon have his latest chance.

Although O’Connell also tossed an interception to Surtain in the Raiders’ 34-18 loss, one of Pierce’s first decisions as interim HC was to install him as QB1. The Raiders benched Jimmy Garoppolo shortly after firing Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler last year, and the fourth-round pick started every game during Pierce’s interim period. O’Connell also was believed to have a leg up on Minshew during the passers’ offseason competition, but Pierce cited the veteran as the better option to help the team start strong. Despite a road win over the Ravens, the Raiders have been unable to establish consistent offense with Minshew at the controls.

Minshew ranks 27th in QBR, representing a steep fall from his Colts finish (13th) last season. Minshew commanded a two-year, $25MM deal this offseason — a pact that led all non-Kirk Cousins FA passers in this class — but became insurance in the event the Raiders did not draft a passer this year. Minshew has 42 career starts on his resume but may well be headed back to the bench, as it would be interesting if Pierce benched the incumbent twice only to like his most recent practice work and keep the status quo in place. O’Connell has completed just 57% of his passes, at 5.5 yards per attempt, in relief duty this season.

Raiders’ Christian Wilkins Undergoes Foot Surgery; DT Out Indefinitely

October 8th, 2024 at 6:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Davante Adams may well depart the Raiders shortly. The team will also be without one of its key veterans on the defensive side of the ball for an extended period.

Christian Wilkins underwent surgery to repair a Jones fracture he suffered on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result of the procedure, the high-priced free agent will be out indefinitely, with Rapoport adding an IR stint is coming. Injured reserve will require at least a four-game absence, but a lengthier one would not come as a surprise.

Wilkins exceled against the run in particular during his five-year Miami tenure. He posted a career-high nine sacks last season, though, and that production in the pass-rush department helped his market value considerably. The 28-year-old inked a four-year, $110MM deal with the Raiders and in doing so became one of the latest defensive tackles to cash in on the position’s surge in value.

That commitment added considerably to Vegas’ expectations along the defensive front for 2024 and beyond. All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby remains in place through 2026 on his restructured deal, but he was counted on more heavily than usual given the season-ending injury suffered by Malcolm Koonce. Now that Wilkins will miss considerable time, the Raiders’ D-line will be significantly shorthanded aside from Crosby.

John Jenkins has started every game for Vegas so far on the interior, logging a 52% snap share along the way. That figure could increase with Wilkins (who racked up 17 tackles and a pair of sacks before suffering the injury) out of the picture for the foreseeable future. The likes of Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu and Nesta Jade Silvera round out the remaining healthy options on depth chart at the defensive tackle spot, and they will compete for increased snaps moving forward.

Wilkins is on the books through 2027, and his pact includes major guarantees next season as well as his 2025 base salary ($25.25MM) vesting early this spring. Returning to full health will thus be critical for team and player, but it will be quite some time until that is the case.

Tom Brady Raises Offer For Raiders Ownership Stake, Could Be Approved As Part-Owner By 2025

October 8th, 2024 at 11:19am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Tom Brady has moved one step closer to joining the Raiders’ ownership group after raising his offer for a reported 10% stake in the team, Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports.

Brady originally received a hefty discount from Raiders owner Mark Davis, but concerns from the NFL finance committee forced Brady to improve his bid. The finance committee can now recommend approval of the deal to the rest of the owners ahead of its meeting in Atlanta on October 15, Maske adds.

If the vote does not happen then, the matter would likely be taken up at the December ownership meeting in Dallas. Of course, owners meetings have repeatedly come and gone without Brady’s ownership bid being addressed. Recent reporting has pointed to that pattern changing, and the all-time QB great is zeroing in on joining the league’s ownership ranks.

Brady is still receiving a discount on his ownership stake relative to market price, but his revised offer is significantly greater than the original and should be enough to sway the finance committee as well as the full ownership body. Now that Brady has cleared this financial hurdle, he is expected to be approved by at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners, who view the seven-time Super Bowl champion as a strong ambassador for the league.

The restrictions imposed on Brady’s new FOX broadcasting gig before the start of the regular season were an early signal that Brady would eventually succeed in his bid to join Davis in Las Vegas. Brady is not permitted to enter any team’s facilities other than the Raiders’, nor can he take part in production meetings leading up to games he covers to avoid any conflicts of interest. He will also be subject to league rules prohibiting public criticism of referees or other teams as well as the NFL’s gambling and tampering policies.

Brady’s ownership stake will also close the door on any late-40s return as a player. He attempted to join the Dolphins as a player/owner during his first retirement in 2022, which ultimately ended with a return to Tampa Bay for his age-45 season. Since his second retirement in 2023, he has hinted at the idea of a comeback but declined to take an opportunity with the 49ers last year.

Teams Unwilling To Meet Raiders’ Davante Adams Asking Price Absent Salary Retention

October 7th, 2024 at 9:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

A resolution to the Davante Adams situation could be coming soon, but the Raiders may well need to make a concession on one of two fronts. The team is asking for a package involving a second-round pick in an Adams trade, and Vegas hopes to avoid retaining any of his remaining 2024 salary.

If the Raiders are to have their asking price in terms of draft capital met – something they are reportedly insistent on – a lower financial cost will be needed for an acquiring team. Veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports teams interested in adding Adams view it as “unrealistic” to send a Day 2 pick to Vegas while also taking on the remainder of Adams’ salary. That figure would sit at $11.92MM if a deal were to be worked out this week without any retention.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms Adams’ trade market will likely force the Raiders to eat some of the six-time Pro Bowler’s outstanding compensation before a deal is made. Vegas obviously prefers to avoid doing so, but with nearly $27MM in cap space the team has the flexibility to take that route provided it becomes conditional for a swap to take place. A number of suitors are in place, but the field of contenders could widen if the financial cost of an Adams acquisition were to be lowered.

As expected, the Jets and Saints are at the top of the list regarding teams to watch in this case, with New Orleans having been the most aggressive in the pursuit of an agreement. A weekend report stated Adams has concerns about quarterback Aaron Rodgers‘ future in New York beyond 2024, something which could factor into a reunion between the two. Adams is under contract through 2026, but the absence of guaranteed money after the current year essentially makes him a rental as things stand.

If the three-time All-Pro were to work out an extended stay with a new team, a restructure would be necessary. That, in turn, would no doubt include at least some guaranteed money being added for 2025 while lowering his future cap hits. With Adams, 31, running out of time to land future big-money contracts, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports predicts his financial outlook will be a key factor in determining where he lands (in addition to trade terms being worked out between the Raiders and an acquiring team, of course).

Robinson adds Adams is no longer viewed as highly in league circles as he once was. The Fresno State product topped 1,100 yards five times from 2018-23, and his 69.7 yards per game average this season nearly falls in line with his career average. Still, his age and the hamstring injury which sidelined him for the past two games – but is expected to fully healed in time for Week 6 – threaten to limit how much teams like the Jets or Saints (in addition to other potential suitors like the Steelers, Bills, Ravens and Commanders) are willing to commit.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said the situation has not changed regarding Adams’ health or his trade status (video link). Keeping in line with his previous stance on the matter, he declined to comment on the reasoning behind Adams’ trade request from last week, something which emerged amongst reports Vegas was making contact with other teams. Whether or not an agreement is worked out with one of them shortly remains a major midseason storyline.

Raiders Aiming To Trade WR Davante Adams Soon

October 7th, 2024 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

By the time teams convene for Wednesday practices, Davante Adams may well have a new uniform assigned to him. The Raiders are aiming to be done with this process this week.

More specifically, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates Las Vegas wants Adams to have a new home within the next 48 hours. Requesting a trade days ago, Adams is onboard with this timeline. While also offering that the Raiders want this deal done soon, veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz adds the team is still not prepared to settle for a below-market deal for its top offensive player.

The Jets and Saints remain the favorites, according to Russini, though the Steelers may be the top lurking team here. The most smoke has come out of New York, however, even if Adams is believed to have some concerns about Aaron Rodgers‘ post-2024 future there. The longtime Rodgers weapon had similar reservations about signing a Packers extension, with Rodgers in year-to-year mode at that point, and eventually made it known he preferred a Derek Carr reunion with the Raiders. That experiment fizzled quickly, and it is not hard to see why the Saints are involved.

Rodgers threw three interceptions Sunday, dropping the Jets to 2-3. New York’s two wins have come over downtrodden teams, and time is running out for the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh-Nathaniel Hackett trio. The pressure on this Jets power structure makes it logical it would gamble on Adams by parting with a valuable future asset, rather than let their potential successors use it as Adams ends up elsewhere. The Jets have not been shy about catering to its quarterback’s wishes, so they should be expected to stay in this mix until the end.

The Raiders want at least a second-round pick for Adams, who is under contract through 2026. Mark Davis is believed to be resolute on that price for a player he was hesitant to give up this offseason. With Las Vegas in limbo, having again benched its starting quarterback (months after a trade-up effort failed), acquiring an asset for its top skill player has always made more sense than hanging onto a weapon that has seemed out of place for over a year.

A Saints arrival would require more Mickey Loomis cap gymnastics, but some of the odysseys the longtime GM has completed to reach offseason cap compliance certainly would not make such a journey unrealistic. The Saints, however, have barely $2.5MM in cap space. The Jets sit at $17.3MM. This would make New York a more appealing partner for Las Vegas, which would understandably prefer to avoid paying some of Adams’ salary to help the acquiring team. (A team obtaining Adams this week would be on the hook for $11.92MM in base salary, should the Raiders pay nothing.)

Though, this route can boost trade compensation, as the Broncos found out when they pried second- and third-rounders from the Rams for agreeing to pay most of Von Miller‘s 2021 salary. How much the Raiders would be willing to eat may well determine if the Saints are a viable option. The Steelers hold $10.5MM in cap room. If the Raiders move on now and not agree to pay any of Adams’ remaining base salary, they would save more than $19MM in cap space, much of which would stand to be rolled over into 2025.

Several other teams — from the Bills to the Browns to the Chiefs to the Commanders to the Ravens — have been tied to Adams. The Chiefs should be considered extremely unlikely for obvious reasons, and the Ravens have not discussed Adams with the Raiders in days. A Washington landing would be interesting, given Jayden Daniels‘ status as the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, while Buffalo — after opting to trade Stefon Diggs — may be more amenable to meeting Vegas’ terms after Josh Allen struggled without Khalil Shakir available Sunday. The Bills have two 2025 second-round picks, via the Diggs trade.

Other wideouts are undoubtedly set to become available, but Adams being on the block early presents help nearly a month before the trade deadline. The 31-year-old WR’s hamstring injury is not expected to be an issue much longer. While a trade now would mean a higher base salary for a player who may end up a rental — as two nonguaranteed years at high prices ($35.6MM, $36.6MM) remain on Adams’ contract — but this is a rare talent who should have some productive years left. We appear close to learning Adams’ third NFL destination.

Raiders Bench QB Gardner Minshew

October 6th, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Gardner Minshew received the backing of Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce earlier in the season, but a quarterback change has indeed been made partway through the team’s Week 5 matchup.

Minshew began the game completing 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. He threw an interception when the Raiders were close to scoring a touchdown, however, with Broncos corner Patrick Surtain returning it 100 yards for a Denver score. Minshew then tossed another pick late in the third quarter, and Vegas’ next possession had Aidan O’Connell in at quarterback. He completed 10 of his 20 passing attempts for 94 yards and an interception of his own as the Raiders fell to the Broncos, 34-18.

Pierce declined to name a Week 6 start immediately after the loss, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, but the mid-game switch indicates that a long-term change at quarterback is under consideration.

O’Connell had an encouraging finish to his rookie season in 2023, having been inserted into the lineup once Pierce was promoted to head coach on an interim basis. O’Connell received praise from the head coach during the offseason, but the Raiders gave Minshew a two-year, $25MM pact in free agency to serve as a bridge starter mentoring a rookie or a veteran capable of handling full-time starting duties. Neither passer ran away with the QB1 gig this summer, and it was Minshew who got the nod for the beginning of the campaign.

Through Vegas’ first four contests, the 28-year-old completed a career-high 70.7% of his passes. That resulted in an average of only 219 yards per game, though, and Minshew threw as many touchdowns (three) as interceptions. Struggling in the turnover department today – something which was a factor in him landing the starter’s role in the first place – has exacerbated the ongoing questions about Minshew’s status atop the depth chart. For a brief stretch, at least, O’Connell will get the opportunity to lead the Raiders’ offense.

Of course, that unit does not have All-Pro wideout Davante Adams in place for time being, and a trade sending him elsewhere could be finalized in the coming days. The likes of first-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers and veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers will handle the build of Vegas’ pass-catching work provided Adams does end up being dealt ahead of the trade deadline. With or without him, a strong showing by O’Connell, 26, could allow him to take over as the starter moving forward.

The Purdue product is attached to his rookie contract through the 2026 campaign, while Minshew’s deal includes $3.16MM guaranteed for next year. Both signal-callers should remain in the fold regardless of how the rest of this season plays out, but an extended O’Connell evaluation period could now be in store.

Raiders’ Davante Adams Likely To Recover In Time For Week 6; Latest On Trade Market

October 6th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 6: Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette confirms the Steelers are among the teams which have called about Adams’ availability. As he notes, though, it remains to be seen how much interest Adams would have in heading to Pittsburgh and committing to the necessary contract adjustments for a deal to become feasible. Adams does not have a no-trade clause or other official leverage in determining his destination, meaning the Steelers remain in play as a suitor; whether they become a serious contender to swing a trade remains to be seen, though.

OCTOBER 5: Davante Adams will not play on Sunday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. That process has doubled as the intensification of his trade market, with several suitors being linked to an agreement with the Raiders.

Vegas is insisting on a trade price of a second-round pick and more to move on from the All-Pro wideout. Retaining some of his salary could take place to make that possible, but Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson writes multiple league executives view that price as “exorbitant.” Even with a lesser financial acquisition cost, teams could be hard-pressed to part with signficant draft capital for player whose non-guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26 would essentially make him a rental, something a number of suitors view him as.

A long-term commitment in Adams would, on the other hand, especially make sense if it were to come from the Jets or Saints. Those teams have long been at the top of the list of teams mentioned as landing spots for the 31-year-old, whose preference would be to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. A deal sending him to New Orleans and thus reconnecting him with Derek Carr and receivers coach Keith Williams is also on the radar, though, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Adams has “concerns” about Rodgers’ willingness to remain with New York beyond 2024 (subscription required).

While several reports still tap the Jets as the frontrunner in this case, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the Saints have been the most aggressive suitor to date. New Orleans does not have the necessary cap space to swing an Adams acquisition, and the team is (as per usual) on track to require several cuts and restructures to attain compliance next offseason. Taking on Adams’ contract now and in the future would be a challenge, though bringing him into the fold could prove to be highly impactful in the NFC South race.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, to little surprise, the Raiders’ preference would be to avoid retaining any portion of Adams’ outstanding base salary (roughly $13.5MM at this point). That could limit the number of suitors unless the asking price in terms of draft compensation were to come down, but many are still in contention as things stand. The Commanders may be among them, but even if not the Steelers, Ravens and Bills have made inquiries as well. Russini adds Pittsburgh – connected to non-Adams trade targets as well – is making an “aggressive” offer, although no deal with any team is considered imminent.

As for Baltimore and Buffalo, Robinson notes a second-rounder is too high of an asking price for a deal to receive serious consideration. The Ravens, per Schefter, have not been in contact with the Raiders for several days. The Cowboys will be without Brandin Cooks for at least four games, but the team has made it clear fitting Adams into its financial planning would be a tall order. 49ers general manager John Lynch‘s latest comments on a potential pursuit of the six-time Pro Bowler, meanwhile, suggested San Francisco is an unlikely destination. The same may well be true of the Chiefs, but they are positioned to test the Raiders’ stance on taking the best offer given their need for a receiver.

Rapoport’s piece notes Adams is likely to be healed in time for Week 6. Trade talks should heat up in the coming days, he and Schefter add, so further developments on this ever-evolving front can be expected. November 5 looms as the trade deadline, and as such the Raiders can still afford to be patient while attempting to cultivate the best market possible over the near future.

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